The flames swirling around him slowly faded, and the crimson hue along his blade receded, revealing a pitch-black sword beneath.
Yoriichi Tsugikuni landed firmly on the deck, holding his sword in one hand, his head lowered as he looked at the figures before him.
"Heh heh, Yoriichi, what brings you here all of a sudden?!"
Garp asked knowingly, greeting him with a grin. His eyes swept briefly over Roger and Rayleigh standing side by side not far away, and there was a faint gleam of surprise in his heart.
Even Sengoku let out a quiet sigh of relief upon seeing Yoriichi arrive from across the sea.
The Roger Pirates were undeniably powerful. With Jaba—a top commander-level powerhouse—leading their forces, the Marines were genuinely struggling to keep them at bay.
Once the battle began, Sengoku had somewhat regretted not bringing along Kuzan and Yoriichi. If not them, then at least Borsalino from Marineford or Sakazuki, who was currently patrolling the seas.
But he had been worn down by the constant nagging from the World Government and miscalculated the balance of power.
"Yoriichi, you're just in time. You'll lead the other Marines in clearing out the Roger Pirates."
"This time, we're sending every last one of them to Impel Down!"
"Roger and Rayleigh are ours to handle. Go all out—we've got your back."
Sengoku spoke loudly to Yoriichi, clenching both fists as he prepared to continue fighting. But Yoriichi didn't respond. He didn't even glance at the Roger Pirates.
Instead, he turned his head toward the white ship docked beside Ship 0, one bearing the symbol of the World Government.
On that white battleship, four CP0 agents and their subordinates stood by the railing, watching the fight between the Marines and the Roger Pirates. None of them showed any intention of helping.
As Yoriichi's arrival stalled the fighting, the eyes of those on both sides shifted toward him. And just then, he locked gazes with the masked agents.
"That man... that's Rear Admiral Yoriichi Tsugikuni of Marine Headquarters."
"He's the one who severed Golden Lion's arm and captured that person."
A CP0 agent in a white cloak and wrathful mask stepped beside the leader and whispered the reminder.
But truthfully, there was no need. They already knew who he was. One of their missions at Lodestar Island had been to retrieve Yoriichi and return him to Mary Geoise, only to be blocked by Garp and Sengoku.
They'd swallowed their pride back then, knowing the Marines were still necessary to take down the Roger Pirates.
"So this is Yoriichi Tsugikuni, huh."
"Just from his aura, there's nothing particularly special about him."
"But anyone who could send Jaba of the Roger Pirates flying with a single strike isn't weak either."
"Don't stir up trouble. Let's wait for the battle to end."
The CP0 leader, wearing a mask of laughter and tears, silently assessed Yoriichi. But just as he assumed Yoriichi was merely sizing them up, the Marine officer leapt from the deck without warning and soared toward the World Government ship.
In a flash, Yoriichi landed at the bow of the white ship, silently taking position at its edge.
Everyone turned to look at him, eyes filled with confusion.
On Ship 0, Roger, Rayleigh, and the others exchanged puzzled glances. Even Jaba, who had just clawed his way back up from the shattered deck, looked over. His clothes were soaked, his breathing ragged, and he looked worse for wear.
Still, he wasn't injured. Just as he was about to confront Yoriichi again, he paused as he saw Yoriichi land on the government ship instead, seemingly unwilling to continue fighting.
"What's that kid doing?" Jaba asked, confused, stepping closer to Roger and lowering his voice.
Roger shook his head and motioned for the crew to stay behind him. His eyes lit up with interest as he watched Yoriichi, then he chuckled and said to Sengoku and Garp,
"Garp, Sengoku, aren't you worried about your Marine prodigy?"
"Looks to me like he's not up there to reminisce with your government friends."
Roger, who possessed the ability to hear the Voice of All Things, could sense it. Though Yoriichi appeared calm on the surface, the blade in his hand told a different story. He was furious—boiling with killing intent.
"Rear Admiral Yoriichi Tsugikuni."
"The Marines are in the middle of a battle with the Roger Pirates. What are you doing on our ship?!"
"Even if you're a Marine, this is a World Government vessel. CP0's ship. Not just anyone can board it."
The CP0 agent with the wrath mask stepped forward, waving dismissively as if shooing away a stray dog.
Yoriichi didn't respond. He barely glanced at him before lowering his eyes to the deck.
It was as if his gaze could pierce through the wood to see what lay beneath. At the same time, he slowly raised his sword.
The next second, in full view of everyone, he slashed downward.
"Crack!"
The deck split wide open, and Yoriichi dropped into the opening without hesitation.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni!"
"What are you doing?!"
The CP0 agents were caught off guard. None of them expected him to destroy the deck. Their voices rose in anger, their expressions dark behind the masks.
"Boom!!!"
A thunderous crash echoed from below deck. The white ship now had a massive hole in its hull, through which sunlight poured.
Sengoku and the others looked over, bewildered. But as they glimpsed the scene inside, their faces froze.
The Roger Pirates also narrowed their eyes.
Roger, after a brief moment of surprise, let out a furious laugh.
"What the hell is this?!"
"Why are there so many children in a World Government ship?!"
Shanks couldn't help but cry out.
The revealed area was a prison. Dozens of children, all under the age of ten, were locked inside. They wore uniform white clothing and stared dumbly at the sunlight streaming through the new hole.
Every one of them had vacant, hollow expressions.
Garp's face turned grim. He suddenly recalled his earlier conversation with Yoriichi—about the wave of missing children in Migo Town.
Now, standing before a prison full of children on a World Government ship, the pieces began to connect.
Inside the ship, Yoriichi stood before the cage. He pulled a small stack of photos from his coat and flipped through only a couple before tossing them out onto the ship's deck.
With his sword still in hand, he vanished, reappearing on the deck once more before the CP0 agents.
Roger, Sengoku, and the others instinctively caught the fluttering photos. One in Sengoku's hand showed a girl around six years old in a pink dress, smiling brightly. His sharp eyes quickly found her in the prison below, and his expression darkened.
Roger turned toward Garp and Sengoku with a sneer.
"This... is the justice you Marines protect?"
"Hahaha... what a joke, Garp!"
"Hahahahahaha!!"
Roger burst into wild laughter.
And at that moment, on the deck of the World Government ship, a furious shout erupted.
"Yoriichi Tsugikuni! What are you doing?!"
"Are you going to strike against the World Government, Marine?!"
The voice turned shrill and desperate.
Yoriichi stood on deck, his black blade now glowing crimson, wrapped in roaring flames and crackling red lightning.
He gave no reply.
Only a deafening thunderclap answered them.
"BOOM!!!"
In that instant, Yoriichi vanished from view. Four columns of blood sprayed into the air, and a scorched path was burned into the deck.
[Sun Breathing, Dominance Form: Flame Requiem]
/////////////////////////
100 P.S = 1 Extra Chapter
For Advance Chapters, please visit and consider joining me on P(a)treon!
p(a)treon.com/Lnee
1-2+ Chapters daily on P(a)treon, will go up depends on the powerstone extra chapters.
You can also access my other translated fics on P(a)treon!